Japanese Tatami & Goza Mats Add to Facebook Tweet this Share this on MySpace Google Buzz It Share this on Stumble Upon Share this on Reddit Email this Tatami & Goza Mats Tatami are a traditional Japanese floor mats. They are made by covering rice straw with a woven sea rush. Tatami are made in individual mats of uniform size and shape, bordered by brocade or plain cloth. The size of a room in Japan is typically measured by the number of tatami mats. Standard dimensions of full mats are fixed at 90 cm by 180 cm (1.62m²). Although, these can vary between regions. Tea rooms & tea houses are traditionally designed to be 4½ mats. We can get them made to whatever size you want. However, as most Australian rooms aren't made with dimensions in 90cm increments, the most popular and stunning way to have tatami is to place the mats in a central position and surround them with floorboards to leave a flush finish. A thickness of 5cm is the most popular if planning to surround with floating floorboards. In Japan, all the materials used are cleaned and disinfected prior to manufacture.

This is done without using any harmful chemicals and meets strict Domestic & International standards. They are sourced from the rice fields on Kyushu (South-west Japan). In Japan, it is illegal for untreated human waste to be used to fertilise food crops. This is not the case in other parts of Asia where cheap straw is sourced for non-Japanese made tatami. The straw used for our mats is oven dried at 85 C for 8 hours to comply with our strict quarantine import permit regulations. This dries out the straw and denatures any seeds/pathogens in the straw. We guarantee that you won't find genuine Japanese tatami mats sold by our local competitors for a cheaper price. We are so confident that our competitors don't import genuine Japanese tatami. If you can prove that their mats are from Japan then we will beat their prices by 25%. We pay nearly 5 times their cost prices to bring you quality for less than 10% more. Why? because we are not greedy we just want you to have the best quality. Size variation Since tatami is made from a natural product over time mats may shrink a little depending on humidity there may be an insignificant variation in length/width of - 5mm.

Tatami Prices Japanese Style Tatami Mats - Chopa Zen Home & Gift Tatami Mats and Goza Mats FREE SHIPPING ON ALL MATS! Japanese Tatami mats have been a basic feature of Asian homes for many decades. The tatami mat was originally meant for the nobility and has now become common in most Japanese style households. Tatami mats have come to symbolize the aesthetics of Asian and Japanese home decor. We offer Tatami mats in various sizes with the traditional rice straw fill. Chopa offers a large selection of Tatami mats for beds, floors, and rooms which come in several sizes and options, and quantity discounts are available. We offer competitive pricing and quick shipping. FREE SHIPPING (domestic 48 states). Please call or email for quotes to Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. Orders are professionally packed and shipped fully insured with tracking capabilities. Chopa Zen Home has been a leading supplier of Tatami in the USA since 1994. Shop with confidence! Tatami bed mats were traditionally used for sleeping. Chopa offers mats made by authentic craftsmen in the Far East. Tatami floor mats have been used extensively throughout Asia and Japan for many years.

In order to intensify your immersion into Japanese and Asian culture and increase the effect of your Zen practice, we encourage you to explore adding traditional Tatami room mats to the interior of your home. Our web-based store also offers the highly popular Goza Mat and Bamboo rugs which are available in various sizes and designs. Shop our comprehensive collection and buy Tatami mats or a Bamboo rug for your sacred space. Quantity discount pricing is available on most Tatami mats. See the discount schedule on the information page of the mat you are interested in. TATAMI - Go Japan Go TATAMI Tatami mats are a traditional form of Japanese floor covering, which are still found in ryokan and many Japanese homes. Tatami mat is the traditional straw matting that is used on the floor in Japanese homes. Tatami evolved over a long period, first beginning as a thin easily folded straw mat on which people sat or slept. Later, more layers of tightly woven rice straw were added to the core to increase comfort. The core was then covered with woven rushes and the edges hemmed with cloth. Tatami room In traditional Japanese society Tatami came to be associated with privilege as exalted members of society sat upon them while others sat on the wooden floor.

As shoes are a symbol of the life led outside the home, it is custom to remove them in the entranceway, here we enter a different world - the private, personal world of the home. tatami (Tatami Omote) Tatami Mats are UNAVAILABLE until further notice. (4/21/16) Though first introduced in 17th Century Japan as a covering for dirt floors, tatami mats are very much a perfect floor covering in today's Eco Home. Japanese Tatami Mats are made from rush or rice straw and retain a light green or 'sage' color, slowly fading over time. Their soft, tactile texture feels great on bare feet. The soft grassy aroma comes straight from China where these were made. Tatami Mats take the place of a rug and are used in the same way. We offer the Tatami Covering, not the entire tatami mat. We use the term 'tatami mat' for simplification. Tatami Mats can be used alone, or can be used as something to place a zabuton or futon on top of for added protection. Tatami mats can also be used outdoors on the grass as a natural ground cloth. What is Tatami Omote?

Many of the homes in Japan still have a tatami room. Though the rooms vary in size and furnishings, all of them have one thing in common. They all use the traditional rice straw floormats, which are about two inches thick, called tatami mats. Tatami omote is the thin outer covering, made of a soft rush material, that is sewn onto the thick rice straw base of the tatami mat. When the cover wears out it is replaced with new tatami omote. Tatami omote is divided by quality into four grades. The highest grade is tokutokujo, next is tokujo, then jo, and lastly the nami grade. The tokutokujo mats are most frequently used in shrines, temples, government buildings, and homes of the very wealthy. The tokujo and jo grade mats are the ones most commonly found in everyday use. Tatami omote is not made of rice straw as many people think. It is made from the stems of a soft rush (juncus effusus) that grows in wetland areas. The stems are collected, cleaned, dried, and tightly woven to make a thin, soft mat.

$40 35" x 70" 1/8" thick Shown here is our Japanese Living Room Set which includes four zabutons with a variety of seats (two zafus, one Peace Bench™, one Smile Cushion™ for a discounted price (10% off individual prices) These sitting mats can be placed together for comfortable floor sleeping. A sleek, minimalist approach to interior design. Feel free to mix and match our floor seats to your needs. Please call to customize your Living Room Set. Eco Backrests™ in front of the Modular Platform Couch with Tatami Mats and Eco Shelf™. C o m p l e t e Tatami Mats, Japanese Tatami mats, Japanese flooring | HaikuDesigns.com Japanese Tatami Mats A "Just-Right" Meeting of Comfort and Firmness The Kaiteki Authentic Japanese Style Tatami Mats Our authentic, traditional Japanese Saitek Tatami Mats are the perfect Asian style floor covering and are both comfortable enough to walk on and yet soft enough to rest on or perhaps lay a mattress on. Our exclusive Saitek Tatami Mats are designed to withstand years and years of heavy use.

Great for entrance areas, dining rooms, meditation rooms, bedrooms or martial arts studios. Manufactured in Taiwan for the Japanese Home market and bearing the JAL approval certificate for quality, and for use of non-toxic materials in construction, our Haiku Designs Tatami mats are quite simply the best tatami mats available in the American market today. Kaiteki is translated from Japanese as "Comfort". We call this the great meeting of two distinct styles, firmness with good support and comfort in the slight give, and natural relaxing feel of the rushstraw Tatami mats. Enjoy the "Not too soft - not too hard" comfort that these beautiful Tatami mats offer. Japanese Craftsmen making traditional tatami mats about 1860 Manufactured in Taiwan, our mats are constructed in much the same way Tatami mats have been traditionally made in the east, for hundreds of years. For instance, our mats use all natural grass and rice straw instead of the wafer board or wood board that is commonly found in less expensive mats. Layered grass straw is more time consuming to manufacturer but it gives our mats that firm feeling with a slight and comfortable give that make Tatami mats such a unique and valuable floor covering.

In addition, the grass straw used as a covering for our Tatami mats is rated, "Best Grade #1", meaning little or no visible variation in grass straw pattern, further evidence of the quality of construction used in the Haiku Designs Kaiteki Tatami Mats. Eco-Friendly: Better for you and your home Because Tatami Mats include a large portion of rush straw, they are classified an agricultural product and must meet strict U.S. Department of Agricultural custom regulations designed to prevent the introduction of insects, and molds into the country. Most Tatami mat manufacturers meet these requirements by placing toxic powder insecticide coatings into several layers of the tatami mat, or fumigating the entire mat with pesticide gas. Our Kaiteki Tatami Mats are the cleanest, most eco-friendly mats available today because they are processed and manufactured naturally. Instead of toxic pesticide powders, fumigation gas or sprays, our mats meet the U.S. Custom requirements by means of an infrared heat process that gently heats the mats eliminating any potential molds. In addition our rush straw components are thoroughly washed using a special process before manufacturing, eliminating any potential problems.

Cleanest, most eco-friendly mats available today Processed and manufactured naturally No toxic pesticide powders or harmful sprays Meets strict JAS, JIS, and USDA standards What this means to you is that the Tatami mats from Haiku Designs offer a beautiful, harmonious traditional Japanese style floor covering for your home or office that is made from all natural, renewable materials in a way that is Eco-friendly and toxin free. Our Tatami Mats are constructed of 4 layers of compressed rice straw, covered with a first grade, tightly woven, rush grass, sewn to the base layers, and then bound with a high-grade black border. Assembled in Taiwan, our Kaiteki Tatami mats are approved and certified for sale in Japan meeting the strict JAS and JIS standards for sale of product in Japan. With proper treatment our Tatami mats will last up to 20 years. AUSPICIOUS LAYOUT In the Edo period of classical Japanese culture the art of placing Tatami mats in a certain pattern in a home, teahouse, or temple was thought to be auspicious and to bring good fortune. This later came to be known as a Washitsu room or a Japanese style room.

When complimented with traditional Japanese furniture such as futons and Rice paper lamps , the result produces a sense of natural beauty, harmony and simplicity all key elements of Japanese home design. Although today Tatami mats are used in a wide range of places and configurations the traditional “Auspicious” style layout listed below confers a balance and sense of harmony and beauty wherever it is placed. It is often used in traditional and modern style homes both in Japan and here in the states to bring balance, order, and an auspicious flow of good luck. Bring good fortune to your home and consider our special Washitsu Auspicious Tatami package and save. Please contact us at information@haikudesigns.com if you need a suggestion for your Tatami layout. Want to purchase an Auspicious Layout Tatami Set? Here's how to save! Kaiteki Auspicious Layout 5-Piece Tatami Mat Set This special website price Includes 4 authentic, standard/large size mats and 1 half size tatami mat. When you purchase this set, you save up to $200 off the freight shipping price. The flat rate shipping of the Auspicious Layout Tatami Set is only $199 within the continental United States!

Truck line shipping. 4 Standard/Large Size Mats and one Half Size Mat for a total size of 8' 10.5" by 8' 10.5" Square. Total weight is 378 lbs. $849 Kaiteki Standard/Large Size Tatami Floor Mat Standard/Large Size Mat is 71" long by 35.5" wide and 2.25" thick, 84 lbs. Truck line shipping. $199 Kaiteki Half Size Tatami Floor Mat Half Size Mat is 35.5" long by 35.5" wide and 2.25" thick, 42 lbs. Truck line shipping. $119 Honest Shipping- UPS, Fed Ex, or Truck Line Delivery In order to insure our Tatami mats arrive at your location safely we double box and add extra padding to all shipments. Single mats can be shipped UPS ground for a cost of $99. Orders of more that one mat require truck line shipping due to their weight (70 lbs) and size. Delivery time for Tatami mats is 2-4 weeks.

Auspicious Layout 5-Piece Tatami Set Order If the Auspicious Layout 5-Piece Tatami Set is ordered, the flat freight shipping rate is $199 when the set is shipped within the continental United States. Individual or Multiple Tatami Mat Orders For orders for individual or multiple Tatami Mats, we will calculate freight shipping charges on an individual basis to insure every customer receives the best possible price. We offer up front quotes for your approval before the order is charged. Place your order for any specific furniture product or combination of products through our secure servers, or call 1-800-736-7614 for an exact freight quote. Our shipping experts will calculate the best possible transportation charges to your location, and will notify you for your approval. No order is processed until your final approval, and you can cancel your order up until time of shipment for no charge Our Shipping rates are the best in the industry. Due to the volume of furniture we ship, Haiku Designs receives up to 80% discounts off of normal rates, and we pass those savings on to our customers.

All furniture is shipped on Class #1 Carriers, Fully Insured, and is delivered right to your front door, or building front door, with a courtesy notification phone call to set up the best time for delivery. Please note that Tatami mats are large, bulky, and heavy, and care must be taken when moving them. HAIKU DESIGNS • 1-800-736-7614 2905 Center Green Court, A Boulder, Colorado 80301 Rules for a Tatami Layout | eHow Rules for a Tatami Layout 3 tatami mats (detail) image by koi88 from Fotolia.com Tatami mats are traditional Japanese flooring materials, created from rice straw and woven, soft rush straw. The layout of tatami mats in Japanese homes supposedly brings fortune or misfortune, and certain layouts cannot be used in all circumstances. The rules that govern these layouts are common knowledge to Japanese homemakers, but for those in other countries who use tatami mats, some study and practice is required.

Auspicious and Inauspicious Tatami mat layouts are said to bring bad or good luck depending on their auspiciousness and the type of ceremony for which they were arranged. An auspicious layout brings good luck, while bad luck is brought by using an auspicious layout inappropriately--during a period of mourning, for instance. Inauspicous layouts aren't necessarily detrimental to your luck. No Meeting of Three Corners When arranging tatami mats, three or more corners should never meet at a single point, as it is said this brings misfortune and/or sickness. No Bisecting Lines This rule isn't as mystifying as the three-corner rule, but may still be a little odd to those of other nations. Basically, it's a bad idea to have a line that evenly splits the entirety of the layout in two, as this resembles a form of suicide known as a harakiri or seppuku, in which a person stabs their own stomach to die in shame.

One Half Size Tatami Per Room Tatami mats come in many sizes, such as 3-by-6 foot, 3.15-by-6.3 foot, 2.9-by-5.4 foot and 2.46-by-5.4 foot. Only one half size tatami can be used in any one room. In the case of the above sizes, using any more than one 2.46-by-5.4 tatami per room would bring bad luck. No Grid Patterns Arranging the tatami in evenly patterned grids is also said to bring bad luck. The one exception to using the grid pattern is during times of mourning, where it supposedly helps the grief-stricken move on. Japanese Tea Ceremony: Tatami mats Tatami mats, Japanese flooring Tatami mats are a traditional form of flooring found in Japanese homes and have been deeply rooted in the Japanese culture from the 12th century. During the 12th century, Tatami mats were luxury goods used by emperors, nobles, religious leaders and other high-ranking officials.

It is said that Tatami varied in thickness and size, the fabric used on the edges were made of different colors and showed the rank of the individual household that owned it. Usage by the upper-class continued until the 17th century, when Tatami found their way into the homes of ordinary people. Simple straw mats for sleeping preceded Tatami. In a quest for comfort, these simple grass mats were made gradually thicker and Tatami evolved. In the 15th and 16th centuries, people began to use them as a form of flooring for the first time, this marked an evolution in Japanese people's way of life and giving birth to Japan's unique Tatami culture. (see Chashitsu glossary / layout ) Tatami mat construction There are three different parts to an authentic Tatami mat; the reed or rush covering, the straw core, and the decorative cloth edging or brocade. In Japanese these are called; the Tatami Omote, Tatami Goto and the Tatami Beri. The Tatami Omote is made of a soft reed and each one needs about 4,000 to 5,000 rushes.

Hemp or cotton string is then used to weave the Omote together. To make the Tatami Goto or straw core, 40cm of straw is crushed to just five centimeters. Finally, cloth brocade is used to border the mats. Surface of Tatami mats: Tatami mats are covered with Rush Grass. High quality long grass is dyed with natural Japanese clay to enhance even color tone which turns golden-yellow as it ages. Steps of making Tatami: The Rush grass covering must be tightly woven and stitched in precise tension to prevent from warping or damaging. Rice straw core: The Rice straw core should be heated to 90 degree Celsius in a kiln or dry oven as is required by the Japan Agriculture Standard(JAS) and USDA. After proper treatment, layers of rice straw are accurately measured and compressed to two inches. Multiple lines of yarns should be tightly stitched together to provide durability and level. Tatami benefits Tatami mats also have health benefits. The tatami's straw inner-core is pressed tight and has lots of air pockets. This makes it very effective at absorbing heat. According to studies by Japanese scholars, a Tatami mat can also absorb approximately 500cc of water from the air.

When the atmosphere is dry, the water will naturally evaporate. Tatami is made of soft reed which according to traditional Chinese medicine calms the spirit. The natural smell relaxes the body and soothes the mind. When laying down the Tatami mats, one has to pay attention to certain rules because the number and layout of tatami mats can bring good or bad fortune. Tatami mats shouldn't be laid in a grid pattern, as it will bring bad luck. The only time a grid layout can be used is during mourning. Many shops used to be designed to be the size of "five and half tatami mats," as this will ensure you have good fortune no matter what kind of business you are in. Tatami mat dimensions The Tatami mat is the only type of flooring for a traditional Chashitsu. In Japan, the size of a room, and that of a house is typically measured by the number of Tatami mats or Jō. The traditional dimensions of the mats were fixed at 90 cm by 180 cm by 5 cm (1.62 square meters)(35.5 inch by 71 inch by 2 inch).

Half mats, 90 cm by 90 cm (35.5 inch by 35.5 inch) are also made. Tea rooms and tea houses are frequently 4½ mats (7.29m²) which is called a Koma style room. Because the size is fixed, rooms and homes in traditional Japanese construction measure in multiples of 90 cm. Mats from Kyoto called Kyo-tatami and other parts of western Japan are slightly larger than those from Tokyo and eastern Japan at 95.5 cm by 191 cm (1.82m²; 37.6 inch by 75.2 inch). Caring for Tatami properly is important. Tatami can mold or become damaged if not handled properly. As a general rule, Tatami mats should be taken out every three to six months so that they can be beaten, aired, rotated, and replaced if necessary. Tatami mats are not affixed to the undersurface in order to remove them easily.

Tatami Mats, Beds and Goza Mats - OrientalFurniture.com Tatami Mats, Beds and Goza Mats 70 7/8"L x 35 3/8"W Rating: Viewing all Tatami Mats: 22 Items The spare, simple, serene look of a "tatami room" covered by tatami mats, entered American consciousness and contemporary home décor with the "Shogun" miniseries, aired in the U.S. in 1980. They represent a step forward in Asian floor mat technology, compared to the simple bamboo mats in common use at that time. Browse both our tatami mat collection and our beautiful selection of 2' x 3', 4' x 6' and 5' x 8' flat slat cotton bound bamboo mats in 4 warm, natural colors. Traditional tatami mats, in contrast to flat bamboo mats, are about two inches thick and about 3' x 6', crafted from woven rush grass stuffed with rice straw, framed with wood, and trimmed on the long sides with black cotton or silk brocade strips.

We also offer a 3' x 3' size, as well as 6 other sizes to fit, in pairs, American standard full, queen, king, and California king, as well as Euro full, queen, and king sized mattresses or futons. We also offer an inexpensive, simple Goza Mat, a 3' x 6' single layer of woven rush grass bound with a black cotton edge. Our tatamis include a breathable moisture barrier to encourage evaporation and maintain warmth underfoot, discouraging mold growth under the panels. The Goza mat does not. As flooring, tatami mats are not as durable or as easy to clean as a wood floor and are not stain or water resistant, not a good choice for foot traffic- hallways, foyers, kitchens or bathrooms. Care is necessary to keep the woven rush grass tops clean and DRY. Yoga and massage studios and other health oriented enterprises use tatamis to create raised shoe-free zones within larger rooms. Customers purchase singles or pairs to lay right on the floor for a small raised area, great for yoga or exercise, or for a simple tatami bed platform- an attractive alternative to a platform bed or a mattress foundation and frame.

However, we also offer beautifully crafted all wood platform style Tatami Beds in Black, Walnut, and Honey stained. Designed for pairs, built to fit standard US queen, king, or California king sized mattresses or futons. Customers describe dozens of uses: natural floor coverings, simple bed platforms, table tops, entertainment centers, massage tables, shoe shelfs, and dog beds, to mention a few. We're sure you will find a use for many of our fine quality, low priced tatami mats. Corporate Info Traditional Japanese Footwear | wafuku – noun: traditional Japanese clothing Welcome to my WordPress blog ————————- Traditional Japanese Footwear Traditional Japanese footwear tends to have thong toes, like modern day flip-flops. The thong part is called the hanao and can usually be replaced if it is damaged or a change is wanted. The thong between the toe is believed to press on acupressure points, aiding the body. This kind of footwear could be easily made using nothing more than woven and twisted reeds, the woven reeds providing a sole, the twisted reed providing the string for the hanao or to simply tie the sole onto the foot.

While wafuku (traditional Japanese clothing) can be very complicated and time consuming to put on, the fastening of it is done with just simple ties, although the different and very specific knots used for each tie can be somewhat complex. This simplicity meant almost anyone could make themselves simple footwear. You can see a pair of tatami, waraji sandals below. Waraji tatami sandals The traditional footwear worn with kimonos is, for women, geta or zori. The spelling of zori varies a lot, you may see it as zouri or zoori. Geta are wooden soled shoes, with solid platforms or with little stilts, called ha (teeth), on the bottom of the soles; they can be found with one, two or three teeth, the most usual being two. Paulownia wood is popular for geta. They are still worn nowadays and tend not to be too terribly high now, though, in the past their height was often much greater. The design of geta is a practical one; they keep the wearer’s expensive kimono from touching the ground and becoming dirty or damaged. Very high toothed geta were used in winter to keep the kimono off the snow.

The wooden bases are sometimes ornately decorated. The images below show you a very plain vintage pair, a vintage pair of lacquered wood geta, an antique pair and a pair of ama geta, with toe covers, to keep the toes dry in rain. Plain wood geta Antique geta Ama geta, with removable toe covers, for rainwear Snow geta – the wooden teeth on the sole raise the kimono off the snow and the spikes give grip, like crampons. Koi Antique Geta Geta based beauties by Kenzo Children’s Ashiato (footprints) Geta The prints are cat, tyrannosaurus, gecko, monkey and owl. Names of geta types Oiran’s Koma geta. Also known as mitsu-ashi (three legs) Oiran were high-ranking courtesans and prostitutes of the feudal period, considered a type of yujo (woman of pleasure), and they wore this tall, lacquered footwear called koma-geta (or mitsu-ashi – three legs).

Unlike geisha and maiko, who only entertain by conversation, singing, musicianship and dancing, oiran were the hierarchy of prostitutes and courtesans in the pleasure quarters in Japan, of whom tayuu were the highest ranking oiran and considered suitable for the daimyo, who were the powerful territorial lords. Only the very wealthiest and highest ranking daimyo could ever hope to patronise tayuu. Whereas geisha and maiko wear tabi socks, the oiran preferred not to do so, even in winter, and their toes could be seen poking out, under many layers of kimono, while wearing these tall geta. These ultra tall (about 25.5cm), three toothed geta helped differentiate oiran from geisha and maiko. Oiran became highly ritualised in many ways and, ultimately, the culture of the tayu grew increasingly rarefied and remote from everyday life and their clients dwindled. The last recorded oiran was in 1761. Their art and fashions often set trends among the wealthy and, because of this, cultural aspects of oiran traditions continue to be preserved to this day.

The few remaining women still currently practicing the arts of the oiran (now without the sexual aspect) do so as a preservation of cultural heritage rather than as a profession or lifestyle. Maiko okobo Maiko (apprentice geisha) wear specific geta called okobo pokkuri; as you can see above. These geta increase the maiko’s height and ensure she walks in small, delicate steps, as everyone in a kimono is meant to, not in long strides. As soon as one is dressed in a kimono, obi and geta or zori, one almost automatically walks in little steps. These geta are sometimes called pokkuri or koppori; both words are onomatopoeia, that is they represent the sound of walking in them. Pokkuri and Koppori are usually very ornate and worn by young girls on shichi-go-san (7-5-3) which is a celebration at ages 7, 5, and 3. Maiko’s okobo, however, are generally quite plain, made of unfinished wood.

The colour of the straps indicates the rank or experience of the maiko, starting off with red hanao and ending their maiko days with yellow, shortly before becoming full Geisha. Geisha don’t wear okobo, they wear either standard geta or zori. Maiko footwear is exceedingly expensive and somewhat hard to find. Senryou geta Generally most Japanese people call this style of geta, with the slant-cut front on the underside, senryou-geta. The reason they are called this is that in the 37th year of Meiji (1904) the Russo-Japanese War started and was won by Japan. The Japanese Army then began to occupy many countries on the continent of Asia. In those days, this style of geta, with the slant-cut front on the underside, was very popular in Tokyo. Someone named this style of geta, Senryou, or Senryou-geta because of the patriotic feeling of that time. One meaning of the word Senryou is “occupation”.

This meaning was depicted by one particular kanji (Japanese text symbol) but many people felt that this use was very harsh and direct and that it showed an attitude that was not welcome, so, in order to keep the word but soften it, a different kanji began to be used. This different kanji had the same sound “Senryou” but its roots were very different. This new kanji became a lucky word and is still used today. Now the word Senryou means sen = 1000 and ryou = a currency unit from the Tokugawa Period (1603-1867). This high amount of money was considered large and lucky, so senryou-geta started out as meaning “occupation geta”, then, while it kept the same name, the meaning changed to that of being a “very lucky geta” or “great geta”. Menkoi geta (cute geta) Round backed heel geta with the slant-cut front on the underside. Many years ago during a time in Japan when foreign shoe styles were becoming popular, Mr. Kunitaro was anxious about the future of the Japanese traditional shoe, geta.

He made many different styles of geta from his own ideas and his own work. One such geta he displayed in his shop’s window and it became very popular with customers. They said it was a very cute and pretty style. That style was named “menkoi-geta”. The word “menkoi” is part of the dialect of Northern Honshu and means the same as “kawaii” which is Japanese for “cute” or “pretty”. Your children would enjoy these geta. They have been worn by Japanese people since old times. Mr. Kunitaro Yoshida, the originator of the menkoi-geta, owned the Geta Shop called “Yoshikuni’s” in Iwate. Yoshikuni is the predecessor of the present Akai-hanao-no-jojo. Tenga geta Tenga geta are one tooth geta. The tooth is replaced when it wears down. Also referred to as ipponba (one tooth) geta. The single tooth is usually around 5 inches high Ashida Ashida geta have two teeth, the height of which can be short or tall. The most common ashida geta are only about two inches high.

These are good for everyday wear in fair weather or light rain but, in the rainy season, puddles on the unpaved edo era streets were often deep, so deeper puddles called for higher geta, and the geta-makers (and their geta), rose to the challenge. They made geta with tall teeth; gakusei ashida geta, and ones with tall thin teeth, called takai geta (sometimes takageta), as the thin teeth keep splashing to a minimum. The tall ones are also sometimes called sushi geta because are reported to be worn by sushi makers in restaurants where the arrangement of a sushi bar requires some height and the scraps of raw fish tossed onto the floor instil a desire to not get too close to the ground. Gakusei-ashida Gakusei-ashida means ‘high geta for students’ and they have thick, high teeth. These are also popular with Bankara students and high school male cheerleaders. Bankara students wear an all black school uniform full of patches and gakusei geta. This is traditional Japanese student-style. They have a lot of guts and stick to their principles.

Bankara students Onna-kuronuri-hutatuba geta means ‘ladies’ two teeth black geta’. Pokkuri geta Pokkuri are worn by little girls and by maiko. They are also called okobo. See the maiko okobo section below for more information. Itaura geta The insole is rice straw matting. These geta looks a little like centipedes. The Japanese seldom wear these geta. Usually they are were worn at an ironworks or in a ship’s engine room to protect feet from iron scraps or engine oil. High heeled geta Geta do not usually have a right or left foot, the toe post is in the centre and the outer side of the foot slightly overhangs the sole. Recently, however, a popular Japanese women’s geta design has the toe hole not in the middle but offset, so that the geta have a definite left and right foot. These are influenced by modern shoes. These geta’s characteristics are narrower for women and made with a clear foot shape. The traditional geta are very square but these new geta are more fashionable. Geta reeno Another high heeled geta but less extreme than the ones above.

Ukon geta Ukon geta are women’s geta and are easier to wear than those with the high teeth. They can also be purchased with much squarer toes than those shown above, The ones in the picture are geta_ukon_kuro_onna, meaning, ukon geta in black (kuro) for women (onna). Ukon Shiraki In the picture above, you can see men’s ukon geta. Usually worn with casual yukata kimonos. Geta parts How to wear geta Zori Most women wear zori with kimono. Zori are thong toed, usually wedge soled, though sometimes flat shoes. You soetimes see zori spelled zoori or zouri. The thong toe on Japanese footwear is always attached at the front centre of the sole and worn with the big toe to one side and the rest of the toes to the other. Western world flip-flops usually have the thong toe offset to one side, to allow the sole of the foot to lie centrally on the shoe sole but not so with Japanese ones (although the offset toe post is actually now just beginning to creep into a few contemporary designs of zori but, generally, the central post remains standard).

Because the thong is central, the outer side of the foot often overhangs the side of the sole a little, as can be seen in the photos with maiko okobo, above, and the pair of black zori at the top of this blog entry. The heel often overhangs the back of the sole a little too. The images below show pairs of zori: one silk brocade covered pair, with matching clutch bag, one with beaded soles and thongs (hanao) and one pair of rain zori, designed to keep the feet dry. The black shoes shown at the top of this footwear blog post show zori worn with tabi socks. Brocade covered zori, with matching clutch bag Beaded zori Covered toe zori are called shigure and are worn on cold or rainy days Girls’ bunny zori How cute are these? Irregular Choice Zori They tie at the ankles, with pompoms on the ties.

That’s my daughter in the photos It’s hard to make out in the photo below but those Irregular Choice zori have a geisha holding a bangasa (Japanese parasol) on the bottom of each sole Men’s Footwear Men wear wooden geta, waraji and setta sandals, like the tatami waraji shown at the top of this blog post, or the footwear shown below. The white setta below are actually Buddhist monk’s sandals. Men’s geta Ryu (dragon) and shogi (Japanese chess pieces) pattern men’s setta Fukagutsu Traditional, Japanese, reed snow boots. Tabi With all this footwear, one wears tabi socks, designed to be worn with thong toes, unless wearing a casual, cotton yukata kimono, in which case one does not wear tabi. Another exception is the waraji sandals, often worn without tabi, especially by workers in rural areas. The older style of tabi is non-stretch, with kohaze fasteners, and the more contemporary style is stretchy and without fasteners. Shoes are removed when entering a Japanese home; one walks on their scrupulously clean floors in one’s tabi socks or a pair of indoor tatami sandals.

You can see tabi being worn in the photo at the very top of this footwear blog post, with the black zori. Tabi socks You can also get knee high, stirrup stockings, called kyahan, to wear under tabi. There is also other tabi toed footwear, such as jika-tabi, worn as outdoor tabi like ninja boots, worn in some martial arts or just worn casually. They are a 20th century creation. The example below is a pair of canvas, rubber soled tabi boots, with kohaze fasteners. Nike also recently produced a range of tabi toed trainer shoes and boots, called Nike Rifts, to introduce the acupressure effects of tabi toes to the sports trainer. Contemporary tabi boots There are many other pairs of Japanese shoes on my website at Wafuku.co.uk and all sorts of other information about Japanese clothing and collectables ————————————– Make Your Own Geta There’s a great site called Instructables , with tips about various things and instructions on how to make all sorts of stuff. One thing I found there was instructions for making a pair of geta. You can see the instructions here .

Perhaps you could make your own ashiato geta, like the children’s cute ones shown further up this post, with whatever footprint you choose in place of the two ha (teeth). ————————————— tatami - definition and meaning tatami from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition n. Straw matting used as a floor covering especially in a Japanese house. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License n. straw matting, in a standard size, used as a floor covering in Japanese houses from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia n. A floor-mat about two inches thick, made of rice-straw bound together and covered on the upper surface with matting. The edges are usually bound with cloth. n. A Japanese measure of surface, that of a mat 6 shaku in length by 3 shaku in width, or nearly 6 feet by 3 feet. Etymologies from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition Japanese. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License From Japanese 畳 (たたみ, tatami).

Examples Japan, of course, uses that oh-so-traditional unit of measurement known as the tatami mat, and the size of a room is always expressed in how many tatami would fit inside, even if it's a traditional Western room with wooden flooring.

Question: What Is the name of the traditional Japanese rice straw matting used as a floor cowering?
Answer: Tatami